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Heartless Proposal by MTA to Double Access-A-Ride Fares is Discrimination, Plain and Simple.

November 24, 2008




I am thoroughly disgusted with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposal to double fares for Access-A-Ride users. While the MTA is considering raising fares for able-bodied straphangers by as much as 50% (from $2 to $3); they are asking riders with disabilities to absorb an unprecedented 100% fare increase from $2 to $4.

This past weekend, I joined Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Eric Schneiderman, Assembly Member Jonathan Bing, and Councilmember Gale Brewer at a press conference along with advocates representing Disabilities Network of NYC, Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, Center for Independence of the Disabled NY, Disabled in Action, and the 504 Democratic Club. At the press conference we collectively denounced the proposed fare hike. Access-A-Ride is critical to those who need it, and the revenue that doubling this fare will bring is comparatively unimpressive.

The current standard of fare equity is the minimum a just society should expect. Like a good old fashioned train robbery, the MTA is ambushing paratransit riders because they know that people with disabilities have no other transportation options. This is the most regressive fare hike the MTA has ever proposed because those who can least afford to pay are being asked to shoulder the greatest burden.

I am also not convinced that this is a legal proposal. The transportation provisions of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act cover public transportation services, like the MTA system. Public transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in the provision of their services. So if a local authority like the MTA chooses not to adequately serve clients with disabilities in its regular system, it is instead required by federal law to create a parallel paratransit system. Decades ago when the ADA was passed, the MTA chose not to make the regular transit system accessible (today there are just over 50 subway stations of 468 that have elevators), so it was required to create the Access-A-Ride service. It goes against the spirit of the ADA to charge people with disabilities more to use a system designed to compensate them for not having access to the regular mass transit system.

I will be doing everything I can to oppose this proposal and I will continue to keep you updated. My press release on this topic can be found in the Publications area of this website.

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Written by Micah · Filed Under Blogroll, Community 

Comments

One Response to “Heartless Proposal by MTA to Double Access-A-Ride Fares is Discrimination, Plain and Simple.”

  1. angela stillwaggon on January 21st, 2009 8:27 pm

    i am a 24 year old female who was recently diagnosed with a degenerative disc dease called disc desiccation. i am in constant pain and i just got approved for access a ride. with the rising cost of everything else, like food, rent, medication, etc., how am i and even others who have it worse than me supposed to affored this fare hike. a lot of us need access a ride everyday to go to our multple doctors and surgeries. i am outraged and sickened by this. i cant work due to my condition and this is just another thing i get to worry about, if i can even affored to get to my appointments. we have enough to be anxious about. i have to go through surgery every 5 years for the rest of my life. i may never walk again if something goes wrong with my surgery. if there are any protests or anything else i can do, someone please let me know.

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